Container for lamp bulbs or the like



M r h 4, 1958 P. w. MIESISLER, SR 2,825,496

CONTAINER FOR LAMP BULBS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 1, 1 956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J 7 INVENTOR. s: PAUL w- M/ESSLE/P,

M, I /W m 7 ATTORNEYS,

March 4, 1958 P. w. MIESSLER, SR

CONTAINER FOR LAMP BULBS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1. 1956 INVEN TOR.

FA uz w- M/ESSZ 72,

A TTOE/ EYS United State e Container Company, Cleveland, Shin, .a corporati'on of'Ohio Applicationlllebruary' 1, 1956', Serial No..562,7721:

9 Claims. (Cl'..Z29'-37) Thisv invention relates. to containers. or: packages for fragilearticles andlmore particularly to'an: improved container or package. for holdinga plurality of electric lamp bulbs or the like in: nestedrelatiomto each other;

Various: types of packages have been proposed for the usual, generally pear shaped, electric light: bulb. It has been found desirable from the standpoint of merchandising and economy. of packaging to provide containers: which willhold a pair of lamp bulbs. It is also desirable that the container. becollapsible sothat it maybe shipped in flat condition and then setup at the time the bulbs are inserted therein. 7

It is. therefore among the objects of: mypresent invention to provide an improved collapsible container for lamp-bulbs or the like which will securely hold the bulbs imfully'nest'ed or overlapped relation to each other while preventing hannful contact therebetween. Other objects of my inventionincl'uder the provision of a collapsiblelamp bulb container which is adapted to be readily set up: for loading either by'hand or by machine operation; the provision of alamp bulb container which requires a minimum ofmaterial, theblank being readily fabricated and folded into: collapsed container form by machine operations; the provision of a lamp bulb container in which the bulbs are held with'the bulb'por-tion of each lamp adjacent the base portion of the next lamp and with: the corrugated sideof the single face corrugated paperin frictional" contact with the bulband'base portions ofi'each' lamp; the provision of a two-bulb container for lamp bulbs which-i's-particularly adapted f'or assembly-into a. four-bulb or; larger package wherein all of the bulbs of the package are arranged in-bulb tobase relation, thus minimizing the possibility of breakage; and theprovi'sion of-a= container-for lamp bulbs or the like which may be made from aone-piece blank of single facecorrugated paper orboard i'n' rectangular form without-cut-outs separate pieces, etc, and thus may be most economically manufactured.

The above and other objects of my invention' will appear from the following description of one embodiment thereof; reference beinghad. to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view'of one of my lamp bulb containersin set up condition ready to receive a pair; of lamp bulbs. v

Figure 2' is a plan view of the blank from which my improved container is formed, looking at the inner or corrugated side thereof. and showing the various score lines etc., thereon;

Figure 3' is aplan' view of the blank shown in Figure 2 after the divider panel portion of the blank has been folded over into superimposed relation with the body of the blank.

Figure 4* is a plan view of the container after the final foldjof the blank has been made, the container being in collapsed? or fiat condition.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a container made as indi- 2,825,495 Eatented Mar. 4,

cated in Figures 2-4 after'itxhasbeen set up andiwith a pair of lamp bulbs. inserted therein;

Figure 6 is. an. illustrative: and elevation. of one oh my improvedc. containers; in partially. set upv position.

Figure. 7: is an. illustrative perspective: View. showing a four-bulb package comprising: a: tubular sleeve into. which a pair; of my improved two-builbcontainershave: been; in+ serted, all of the; bulbsabeingin nested,.bulb to; base re.- lation- Referring; now particularly to Figurev 1,.the container is: shown: in set: up position read y toareceive a pair. ofi'lamp bulbs. It comprise-sv essentially: an.- open: endedi tubular sheaths of single face corrugated paperwith: the corruga tions on theiinsid'e and having a. topzwall 1,. a bottom-wall 2: and; side walls 3 and 4'. Extending betweerr the top and. bottom walls 1' and 2 and' parallels totthet sidewall 4 isra-firsedivider wall 5'. It willi be notedsthan divider wall 5 is closer to the side wall 4 than to the side wall 3 and: extends from) one open end of-the-sheath S inwardly substantially; torthezcenter of the: sheath in av lengthwise direction. A second dividerswall 6.is substantially parallel to; the sidewalk 3 and. extends: vertically betweenthe top. and bottnnu walls 1: and 21inthe same manner as divider wall; 5. This divider wall 6' however extends inwardly. from; the opposite open. end of the sheath S'- for a; distance.- substantially half: thev length of 'the" sheath S and is;closer tottheside wall 3athan to: the sidewall 4;

From the above it will. beseentthat rnyimproved'container; when: in erected on see up=condition, provides a pair. of diagonally arranged, substantially identical open endedsbulb receiving sections or compartments which are square. in. transverse cross section, whichare offset but overlapping relative to each other, andwhich extendinwardly frornaopposite openends of the sheaths. In addition to; these bulb receiving sections the container pros videsapair. of base receiving sections whieh'are diagonally arranged in theopposite corners of the. container-from the bulb receiving sections: and which are-narrowerthanthey arehigh, thushaving-a smallen transverse crosssectional area thamdothe, bulb receiving sections or; compartments;

As best seen. in Figure 5, when a pair of-l'arnp bulbs are inserted intothe set up container of Figure 1 the bulb portion: '7: of lamp bulb. B lies inthe bulb receivingsection or compartment defined by the dividerwall 5, side wall 3-: and topand bottom walls: L and 2. Thereduced base portion 8: of j lamp bulb B extends into the base receiving section which islongitudinally adjacent the above defined bulb receiving section andis defined by divider wall- 6, side wall 3 and top and bottom walls 1- flll'd'z. It will be noted that the overall length of the container is substantially the same as that of a single lamp; bulb. In like manner the lamp bulb B is disposed with its bulb portion 9 in the bulb receiving section orchamber defined by divider wall 6, sidewall 4 and= top and bottom, walls 1' and 2, whileits base portion10 lies in the longitudinally adjacent base receiving section defined by:dividerwall 5;

1 side wall= 4 andtop and bottom walls 1 and 2. In the case of lamp bulb Ball of its contacts-with theinner'surfaces ofthe containerare with the corrugated-wall thereof and it will benoted that the corrugations thereof' all run transversely to the length of the container. The corrtainer is so dimensionedas to provide asnug engagement A tion in the container.

with the bulb portions of the lamps contained therein. and the resilient frictional grip. provided by the transverse corrugated surfaces assists in retaining the lampsin posi- Lamp bulb B also has substantial portions of its surface in contact with, the corrugated surfaces. of the container although. some, parts engage non-corrugated surfaces.

P us o d, my improved container is ureter.

ably' made of single faced corrugated paper and the,

. quterilfacinggpapenof:the.blank.. a l l a V n V spacedparallel score lineslfiand'lS which define the top and bottom edgesfiof divider walls 51 extend inwardly'lfrom one edge blank'for the container-shown in Figure 1 is illustrated in Figure 2 which is a plan view looking at the inner'or V corrugated face of the blank. 7 At the right hand end (Figureil) of the blankisithe'to'p'wall 1 which is sepa- 2 rated from the side' wall 3 by a .cre'ase'scoreline 11.

Crease scores-line's, astheiterm'is employed 'herein, con

sist of a creasing or crushing of theicor'rugations in the side wallr3,.and separated therefrom by crease score line '12,is the bottomwallz whileadjacent'the bottom wall 2 is the opposite side wall'4, a crease score'line 13,sepa'-. 7

rating fwallslzaand '4. l A dividerwall 'panel, generally indicatedfat '14, extends from .thelleft hand end=ofthe side wall 4'and .a crease score line separatesthe panel 14 from side wall 4. l The dividerwall panel114 includes the divider! wall 5 and the divid'e'r walli6 and also injmediately following'this folding operationlthejrnoving eludes otherpor'tions which serve tosupport the divider f walls Stand '6' and to assist in properly :positioningathem whenjthe container is setup as will more fully appear laterx 'i l u. H V 0n theinner corrugated face of the divider wall panel 14 of :theblank are crease score linesu16 and 17 which on thelcorrugated, face of the ,blank by cut score lines '"define the'top edges of the divider walls 5 and-6 res'pec- 'tively when the container is set up as seen in Figure l.

The'lower ends otithe divider walls Sand daredefined I *4 The blanks oflFigure 21 elpreferably formed con: tinuously from anlelongated strip or roll 'of'corrugated paper, having 'a width. equal to the length'of. the blank 7 7 ,between the right hand end ot'v portion 1 and .the left hand end of portion 14, by passingthe strip through suit-2 1 able scoring and slitting rolls. As the strip emerges from f these rolls glue lines are applied at 21 and 22 and, while lstill' movingg it isfolded on score line 15150 that the V divider 'wall panel "portion lfi overlies the, side wall land a portio'n of the bottom wall;2 as .indicatediiFigurefi: During thisfolding operation-the gluel21 adheres to .the V inner corrugated face of the bottom wall portion 2;"Im-

strip is folded on score line :12 so that the side wall por- 7 tion 3 and top wall portion l ove'rliejthe'divider Wall panel 14 and the glue 22 is caused to adhere to the outer: facing of the panel portion '14. The'collapsed containers are now completeduintubularformu and-the moving tube is severed at. proper intervalsby suitableacutofif knivesvlto produce the individual units seen in Figure 4; ;These ;flat or collapsed containers occupy a minimum of space and are particularly adapted .foreconornical handling a'nd V a shipment to the opposite directions at theopposite ends 23land 24. When'.

' -l8r and 19 respectively: These cut score lines are formed j by. slittingithrough the humps of the corrugations onlthe inner surface of the blank without cutting .through the It i will, he observed; that the pair ;of

of the blankfa distance equalsubstantially to half the ver top and bottom edges of, divider wall 6 extend inwardly the container. In order to separate the divider walls 5 "and 6 and permit themto be properly positioned when 7 the; container is set up, the blank is 'cut or slit completelyi throughas indicated at120.g This slit 20 extends transversely of the length ofithe'. container, and forms 1 the inner vertical edges ofboth divider walls 5 and 6 tical: dimension of the blank as .seen in Figure 2 (which a V V dimensioncorresponds to'the length of the tubular sheath 7 7 portion;$ of the setup container). 'In like manner the pair l 'of'spacedparallel score lines '17. and 19, which define the 40 l from the opposite edge of the blank for half the length of relative movement between these partsjand thus insuring proper, erection of ;t he;container when pressure is ap-. u

when the container is erected. As seen in Figure 2, the 7? divider wall panel 14 p rojectslsomewha t beyond'the cut scoreline 19 which defines the lower end'ofldivider wall 6' and'a glue'line 21 is Lshownjlapplied across, the end of lines-direetly opposite each of said s'core linesj16',f17, 18 and 19. These perforated score lines are indicated; on

Figure 3 at 16?," 17", 1 8'; and 19f and; consist of spaced 7 this is done thecontainer starts to lopenxup, as, seen yin, Figure 6 and continued pressure will cause theflcontainer a a toureachitsfully set up positionias' shown'in Figureilt 7 Due :to the factithat theend '14" of :the divider' wall panel ""14 issecuredfagainst movement-relative tothc bottom 7 a walll2,the vertical,walliportionsfi, 4, Sand 6of the 7 container automatically/and necessarily move "up from 7 their fiat conditioninlparallel relation tore'ach 'other until"- fthe unit is fullyopened; AS previously ;noted'the score lines at the ends/10f divideriwalls'j and '6 provide'hinged connections to the adjacent portionsofjhe panel 14pm,

as the panel '14 is secured at itsroppositegends. tojthe'topf V and bottomwalls; 1" and} of theqtubularsheath, the ldi-r V V vider walls 5 and 6 may pr'operly bedescribed asb ing hingedly connected at their opposite ends to the'topand V bottom walls of the tubular sheath of the assembled'con-l tainer; Although I have described the'end 14 of panel 14 asbein g glued to the bottomlwall 2 it will be :understood that other means may be provided for preventing,

pliedtothe'opposite ends orhcornejrs thereof'23 and24 A as described above. It hasqprcviously been noted thatrthe f' corrugated surfaces offthe lower endsof the '.dividerwalls' 5 and'6 aregdefi'ned 'by cut-score lines 16 andf17." These cut score linesfac ilitatesetting up the containenas they f j e slitsthroughqthe outer face of the;corrugatedj material ;'fromjwhich the blank-is constructed; All of these score lines which. are disposedat theends-ofthe divider-walls 5 and 6 provide what may' b'e termed hinged conned" tions between the ends of*theidividerlwalls and the adi jacentpprtions of thepanel 14.1' 7 l1 7 u Although I have described 'a"blank for'niy improved bulb container havingflcertain types lof s'cdrellines at certainfspecified locations itiwill be understood that the tunction of ;the score linesIisi inerely ltoifacilitate and assist fur the uassembly'a'nd ,erec'tionflof the containerand ha ya i useth typ sand,arrangementsifse ringm y 7: "be employed toperinit and facilitat'theptopii bending of the'blankfl 'i i y permit the corrugated paper to bend or hinge more readi 'ly on these lines with the'corrugations onthe outside off the bend than wouldotherwisefbe'the case? H 1 l i After theunit is set up the-lamp jbulbsB and B. are inserted therein, la nip B being inserted from the-near} end of the container (as'seen in Figure 1) 'so that its reduced i f: base portion S enters intogthe narrow base receiving sec tion between side wall 3 and divides-wall tiand its'enlarged '7 bulb portion '7 enters into and'frictionally engages the 1 7 Walls t el n tudin y' a j bulb re e vin t I N between the-side-wall 3V and the divider-walls; In like 'manner'ith lamp'Bi is inserted from the far end of the u j container (as. seen in Figural); its base portion entering" ,theubase rec'eiving sectionbetwe'en side wall 4 and divider wall- 5 audits bulb-portion' being-ihousedin the long'itudi- V p nally'adjaceiit;b1ilbreceiving sectionbetween :sidefwall 7' 4 and dividerwall 16'. The divider walls 5' and a 6 effectively" f prevent anycontact-between.thetwoibulbs Band Bf. fAla fthough,--a's illustrated; these; divider walls iare hew/n i each extendinginwardly tromgthefopen ends of thelsheath; V

' 1f substantiallyghalfthe length let the *she'ath, li t; will be a linderstoodthat for lanipbulbs of different configurations- ?they-may:be madetoextendinwardly fronr theopen ends 'difierent distances. Thus in seine-bases ;the'=slit might be replaced by -a cutout section==thus-making-ihedivider "wallssomewhat narrower in atom and aft direction than those illustrated.- Furthermore,the-innervertical edges'of 1 divider 'walls 5 and-6 -(form'ed'by slitz20) are flexible to a degree-and 'perinit distortionthereof by the adjacent portions 'of the 'lamp-bulbspthus eileetivel'y preventing contact-between adjacent portionsof the lamp bulbs.

In shipping-and handling lampbulbs or the like the best 1 -results are" obtained," so'far as elimination of breakage is concerned, when all of the bulbs are-arranged relative to 'each other in bulb to base relation. "lithe-lamp bulbs are packed with'the' bulb portion side by -side :(inbulb to bulb relation), there is considerably 'greater'danger of-breakage as any impactor force-exerted against one bulb will be transmitted directly tothe' adjacent'bulb portion, :where- 'asfinthe bulb to base arrangement this direct-transmission 'of forceis not possible. Itisone of'jtheadvanta'ges of :my improved lamp bulb container that'the "two-bulb -units packaged and the width of which, for a two-bulb unit, is

substantially le'ss-thanthe width of'two bulbs. Thus my container provides-maximum nesting ofthe packaged units which is particularly desirable from the standpoint of ship- 115m and storage.

eitremelye fiectiveprotection against'brjeakage and against T accidental slipping of the bulbs from the containers.

Furthermore, my containers afford Although- I have-"described and illustrated certain embodiments of my invention in considerable detail it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made in the specific proportions, form, and arrangement of the elements which make up my improved container. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the exact device herein shown and described but claim as my invention all embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A collapsible container for lamp bulbs or the like comprising a tubular open ended sheath having unbroken, fiat top, bottom and side walls, a first divider wall disposed closer to one than the other of said side walls between said top and bottom walls and extending from one open end of said sheath inwardly for a distance less than the length of said sheath, and a second divider Wall disposed closer to said other than to said one of said side walls between said top and bottom walls and extending from the other open end of said sheath inwardly for a distance less than the length of saidrsheath, said second divider wall being spaced from said other side wall the same distance said first divider wall is spaced from said one side wall, said first and second divider walls dividing said sheath into a pair of diagonally arranged offset but overlapping substantially identical open ended bulb receiving sections and a pair of oppositely diagonally arranged substantially identical base receiving sections of smaller transverse cross-sectional area than said bulb receiving sections, and said divider walls being hingedly connected at their opposite ends to the adjacent top and bottom walls.

2. A collapsible container for lamp bulbs or the like comprising a tubular open ended sheath having unbroken, flat top, bottom and side walls, a first divider wall disposed closer to one than the other of said side walls between said top and bottom walls and extending from one open end of said sheath inwardly for a distance less than the length of said sheath, and a second divider wall disposed closer to said other than to said one of said side walls between said top and bottom walls and extending from the other open end of said sheath inwardly for ;a distance less than the ,length of 'saidsheath; said second divider wall being spaced from saidothersidewall the same distance said first vider; wall is spaced from said oneside wall,said first and second divider walls being substantially parallel and dividing-said sheath into a pair of diagonally arranged offset ends to the adjacent'top and bottom walls.

3. Acollapsible container for lamp bulbs or the -like comprising a tubularopen ended rectangular sheathhaving unbroken,--fiat top, bottom-and side -walls, a first divider wall disposed substantially parallel to and closer to one than theother of said side walls between said-top 'an d bottom walls an d extending from'one open end of said sheath inwardly for a-distance less than the length of nata sheath, =and a second divider wall disposed substant'ially para'llel to and closer to said other than to said one said side walls between said top and bottom walls and extending from the other open end of said sheath inwardly for a distance less than the length of said sheath, said second divider' wall being spaced from said other side wall the same" distance said first divider wall is spaced from said one sidewall, sai'd'first and second divider walls dividing sheath into a pair of diagonally arranged offset but 'overlapping:substantially identical open endedbulb receiving sections and a pair of oppositely-diagonally arranged base receiving sections of smaller transverse crosssectional area than said bulb receiving sections, and said divider walls being hingedly connected at theiroppo'site ends TO the "adj Eitiilt top and 'bd ttO m Walls.

"4. A collapsible container for lamp bulbs or the like "comprising 'a *tubular open ended rectangular sheathhaving"un5r6ken,"flat top, bott'cim and sidewalls, a'first divider wall disposed substantially parallel to and closer to one than the other of said side walls between said top and bottom walls and extending from one open end of said sheath inwardly for substantially one half the length of said sheath, and a second divider wall disposed substantially parallel to and closer to said other than to said one of said side walls between said top and bottom walls and extending from the other open end of said sheath inwardly for substantially one half the length of said sheath, said second divider wall being spaced from said other side wall the same distance said first divider wall is spaced from said one side wall, said first and second divider walls dividing said sheath into a pair of diagonally arranged offset but overlapping substantially identical open ended bulb receiving sections and a pair of oppositely diagonally arranged base receiving sections of smaller transverse cross-sectional area than said bulb receiving sections, and said divider walls being hingedly connected at their opposite ends to the adjacent top and bottom walls.

5. A lamp bulb package comprising a tubular open ended sheath having unbroken, flat top, bottom and side walls, a first divider wall disposed closer to one than the other of said side walls between said top and bottom walls and extending from one open end of said sheath inwardly for a distance less than the length of said sheath, a second divider wall disposed closer to said other than to said one of said side walls between said top and bottom walls and extending from the other open end of said sheath inwardly for a distance less than the length of said sheath, said second divider wall being spaced from said other side wall the same distance said first divider wall is spaced from said one side wall, said first and second divider walls dividing said sheath into a pair of diagonally arranged ofiset but overlapping substantially identical open ended bulb receiving sections and a pair of oppositely diagonally arranged substantially identical base receiving base receiving sections of smaller transverse crosssectional area than said bulb receiving sections, said divider walls being hingedly connected at their opposite ends ts the' adjacenttop and bottom Vanessa a pair a: lamp 7 tbulbs disposed in nes ted bulbgto base relation said fsheatlnone of said lamp bulbs having'its bulb portionin tone of said bulb receiving sections and its base portion in "the longitudinallytadjacent base receiving 'sectionand the 7 'other of said lamp bulbs'havingits bulb and base portions in the other of s'aid bulb and-base receiving sections.

6. A container-bf; the type describedcomprising an open 'ended sheath having top, ,ibottoni and sidewalls formed from an elongated'blank, and an integral-divider and spaceddivider'wall portions extending btweedfsa'id top and bottom "walls; one of tsaid'divider walls being closer to one of saidside wallsrthan to the other and the adjacent divider wall being closer to said other 'ot said side walls than'to' said one of said sidewalls; v r

9. A -collapsed containe'rfor lamp bulbs'or the like com-2 prising" a" first, fiat I portion including the bottom andione aside'wall portion of the container, said bottom and side wallpaneLconnected to one end of one of'said walls, said i panel having'a' cutportion disposed betweenits ends and 7 extending transversely'of the length oftheeontainer and 7 having offset score lines therein defining, with said out portion; a pair of offset divider ,walls, said panel being disposed between said top and bottom walls of said sheath adjacent its other. end to said bottom wwall.

' :and being secured adjacent one end to said top v'vall and s 7. A blank for forming a collapsiblecontainer of the type described comprising an elongated strip of single face corrugated paper divided by rparallel score lines into top, bottom, and side wall portions, and a' divider wall panelinltegral withand extending trom one end'of one of 7 said Wall portions, said divider wall panel havingofiset ,Score lines thereon and being slit between its ends transversely of the lengths of the container, said divider wall panel being divided by said slit and said ofiset some lines to forma pair of ofiset divider wall-portions; said .ofiset 7 score lines being parallel to said first mentioned score lines t and normal to said slit.

" s 8. A eollapsiblefcontainer. of the type described i'eom- V 7 prising an open ended sheath having top,' bottom and side 1 walls, and a divider wall 'paneljntegrally and hingedly connected to one edge of one of. said side walls, said panel having'attachingi portions, secured tofand engaging the ''its ends in aldirection substantially normal tO'SaidSCOIQ:

wall portions being separatedby a score line; a divider wall 'panel overlying and secured at its opposite ends 'to'said fiat portion, said dividerwall panelrbeingslit'between lineand having one pair. of"'spacedparallel' score lines extending from said slit-to one edge of said panel in a direction pa'rallelto jsaid first nientioned score 'line an d a second pair of spaced-parallelfscore lines 'oflls'et fro'ln said first mentioned pair andlextendingffrom saidslit to the other edgeof said panel in atdirection'parallel to-said first mentioned score line; said slit and said pairs'of score lines defining a pairvof olfset dividerwall portions,- the'widthf of saidfdivider wall portions being substantially the'saine 'as thet'width of said sidewall portion, and a second 'flat 1 portion secured to the opposite end of said first flat por-t tion from' said divider wall panel and 'overlyingfsaid dividerwall panel, said second flat portion being divided t by a score line into a top wall portioniand a second side 7 'wall portion and'being securedrat its free end to the outer inner faces of said top and bottom walls respectively,

face of said divider wall panel adjacent the junction there 

